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Activision is closing its premium Call of Duty: Elite service, nearly two years after it racked up more than 10 million registered users and 2 million paid subscribers. The service that provides in-depth stats, social networking, and clan-based features for Modern Warfare 3 and Black Ops 2 officially ceases to be on Friday, February 28 at 10AM PT/1PM ET.

Activision has a FAQ detailing what this all means in greater detail. As a means of thanks to those who used the service, the publisher is doling out two hours of Double XP in Ghosts to members who've logged into Elite since January 1, 2014. It's an altogether subdued end to a service that was trumpeted as "Activision getting in front of our players and leading them into the future of connected entertainment."

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionActivision-Blizzardcall-of-dutyCall-of-Duty-Black-Ops-2call-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3Wed, 26 Feb 2014 11:03:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/14/call-of-duty-elite-app-gets-black-ops-2-support-on-ios-android/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/14/call-of-duty-elite-app-gets-black-ops-2-support-on-ios-android/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/14/call-of-duty-elite-app-gets-black-ops-2-support-on-ios-android/#commentsThe Call of Duty Elite app has been updated on iOS and Android to support this week's monolithic debut, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. You can use the app to check your career stats and recent match performances, edit your classes, and search for and apply to Clans - pretty much the same stuff you can do with the app via Modern Warfare 3.

You can also use it to stream Call of Duty Elite TV, access multiplayer guides, and track challenges. The iOS app is universal and compatible with all iDevices running iOS 5.0 or greater; however, the app does not have iPhone 5 screen support.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>call-of-duty-black-ops-2call-of-duty-elitemicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxFri, 09 Nov 2012 14:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/cod-elite-being-extended-until-march-1-2013-for-mw3-early-adopt/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/cod-elite-being-extended-until-march-1-2013-for-mw3-early-adopt/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/cod-elite-being-extended-until-march-1-2013-for-mw3-early-adopt/#commentsHere's good news for early Call of Duty Elite subscribers who may have been prepping their checking accounts for another premium subscription charge: You've got a few extra months to play. Activision has sent out emails to members who joined the Elite Premium service on launch day last year, extending their Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Elite memberships until March 1, 2013.

The same services (which include things like clan support, Elite TV, and a few other options) are going to be free for everyone in Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. Given the issues Elite had at launch, it seems sensible to let premium subscribers keep playing without paying any more.

This leaves one question, however: What will happen to MW3 Elite Premium subscribers when subscriptions do end on March 1, 2013? A FAQ on the official website says Activision isn't taking any new subscribers at all, since new DLC is no longer being offered. We've contacted Activision for comment and will update if we hear back.

Update: Activision says that "when your Call of Duty Elite Premium membership subscription term for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 ends - whether on March 1, 2013 or after, your formerly "Premium" Elite membership for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 turns into a "Free" Elite membership for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3." So users will still have access to all of the features of MW3 Premium, but they won't have to pay. Feel free to keep shooting!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>call-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3elitemicrosoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationpremiumps3subscriptionxboxThu, 08 Nov 2012 18:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/17/black-ops-2-wii-u-wont-launch-with-call-of-duty-elite/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/17/black-ops-2-wii-u-wont-launch-with-call-of-duty-elite/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/17/black-ops-2-wii-u-wont-launch-with-call-of-duty-elite/#commentsBlack Ops 2's Elite service won't be available in any form on the Wii U at launch, Activision says.

"We are currently evaluating options for Call of Duty Elite to support Nintendo's Wii U game system, however Call of Duty Elite for Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 will not support this platform when the game launches on November 13," Activision tells Kotaku.

This is true in more than just the Elite sense, since the Wii U doesn't launch until November 18 in North America. Activision recently announced Elite will be free across all platforms for Black Ops 2 and will have a season pass for DLC, at least on Xbox 360. There's no word yet on a season pass for other platforms, but Activision is "working with Nintendo" to bring it to Wii U.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>call-of-duty-black-ops-2call-of-duty-eliteelitenintendowii-uWed, 17 Oct 2012 15:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/30/modern-warfare-3-dlcs-final-assault-on-xbox-360-next-week-plus/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/30/modern-warfare-3-dlcs-final-assault-on-xbox-360-next-week-plus/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/30/modern-warfare-3-dlcs-final-assault-on-xbox-360-next-week-plus/#commentsOn September 5, Call of Duty Elite premium subscribers on Xbox 360 will get their final three maps for Modern Warfare 3: Gulch, Boardwalk and Paris. If you're not a premium member of Activision's DLC delivery service, you can get these three new maps and two previously released stomping grounds - Parish and Decommission - in Content Collection #4 for 1200 Microsoft Points ($14.99). This is the final map pack for Modern Warfare 3.

Elite premium members on PS3 also get some new content next week on September 6, namely a pair of Special Ops maps - Light 'Em Up and Special Delivery - and the new Special Ops Chaos Mode, a wave-based variant on Modern Warfare 3's vanilla Survival mode.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3microsoftmodern-warfare-3playstationps3sledgehammer-gamesxboxThu, 30 Aug 2012 20:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/07/modern-warfare-3s-final-two-dlc-packs-fully-reconnoitered/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/07/modern-warfare-3s-final-two-dlc-packs-fully-reconnoitered/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/07/modern-warfare-3s-final-two-dlc-packs-fully-reconnoitered/#commentsThe year of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 post-launch content is coming to a close, but it's going out with a bang (gun pun fully intended). The Chaos Pack - previously half-detailed - brings three Face Off maps and four Spec-Ops missions, as well as a new mode, dubbed "Special Ops Chaos Mode." It's a wave-based survival mode, albeit with a Spec-Ops twist. The whole shebang launches for Xbox 360 on August 9, with PS3 and PC versions launching later on.

In September, MW3 players on 360 get the "Final Assault" pack, which adds five multiplayer maps ("Gulch," "Offshore," "Boardwalk," "Decommission," and "Parish"), two of which are already available on 360. Again, this content arrives on PS3 and PC at a later (unknown) date. As Activision community blog One of Swords points out, Call of Duty's Elite season ends with more content than it originally promised, which seems pretty boss if you ask us. But don't go getting your precedents miscalibrated, as this may not be the case in future years.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionboardwalkcall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3chaos-packdecommissiondlcdownloadable-contentelitefinal-assaultgulchinfinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3offshoreparishraven-softwaresledgehammer-gamesspec-opsspecial-ops-chaos-modexboxTue, 07 Aug 2012 12:40:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/02/details-on-modern-warfare-3s-new-spec-ops-missions/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/02/details-on-modern-warfare-3s-new-spec-ops-missions/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/02/details-on-modern-warfare-3s-new-spec-ops-missions/#commentsOn August 9, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 will have the Chaos Pack available, featuring several new Spec Ops missions. Videogamer got the scoop from Sledgehammer Games on two of the new missions, Light 'Em Up and Special Delivery.

Light 'Em Up takes place after the conclusion of the Modern Warfare 3 campaign, putting one player into the cockpit of a Little Bird helicopter as he attempts to cover another player who's on foot, running around a hydroelectric dam in search of intel on hostage positions. Special Delivery has no shortage of expensive war toys, charging players with reaching a downed pilot in unfriendly territory - one player mans an Osprey Gunner, providing cover fire from the air and deploying care packages to his partner on the ground.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionaugustcall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3dlcmichael-condreymicrosoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3sledgehammer-gamesxboxThu, 02 Aug 2012 10:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/13/modern-warfare-3s-july-content-for-elite-ps3-and-xbox-360-subsc/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/13/modern-warfare-3s-july-content-for-elite-ps3-and-xbox-360-subsc/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/13/modern-warfare-3s-july-content-for-elite-ps3-and-xbox-360-subsc/#commentsCall of Duty Elite members on Xbox 360 will get a new content drop in Modern Warfare 3 on Tuesday, July 17: three new multiplayer maps and a Spec Ops mission.

The multiplayer maps include a graveyard of derelict ocean liners called Decommission, an oil rig built for sniping called Offshore, and the remake of Modern Warfare 2's Terminal map, available to Elite members on Tuesday and free for the rest of Modern Warfare 3's Xbox 360 players the following day. In the Spec Ops mission, Vertigo, players must take down enemy troops and helicopters while perched atop the Oasis hotel.

On Thursday, July 19, Call of Duty Elite subscribers on PS3 get to tussle with three new Face-Off maps and a Spec Ops mission, content released on Xbox 360 back in June. Multiplayer maps include a tornado-rocked town called Vortex, a dilapidated middle-eastern highway in U-Turn, an urban NYC-based map called Intersection, and the Spec Ops mission, Arctic Recon, which tasks players with assaulting a Russian warship.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arctic-reconCall of DutyCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3call-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3decommissionintersectionmicrosoftMiddle Eastmodern-warfare-3offshorepcplaystationps3Sci/Techspec-opsSpecial forcesterminalU Turnu-turnvertigovortexxboxFri, 13 Jul 2012 13:50:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/18/modern-warfare-3-elite-premium-getting-spec-ops-mission-three-f/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/18/modern-warfare-3-elite-premium-getting-spec-ops-mission-three-f/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/18/modern-warfare-3-elite-premium-getting-spec-ops-mission-three-f/#commentsModern Warfare 3 "Elite" premium subscribers on 360 are getting a brand new Spec Ops mission and three new Faceoff missions tomorrow. That's according to the Twitter account of Infinity Ward Executive Producer Mark Rubin, who named the three maps "Vortex," U-Turn," and "Intersection," and the mission "Arctic Recon."

Activision's official content calendar isn't updated to reflect Rubin's tweet just yet, but we expect it'll show up not too far from now. Despite the calendar showing three pieces of content - dubbed "map," "mission," and "classified" - don't panic. Rubin said "those guys need to update the categories to be more accurate," which translates to "I swear this is really the truth, regardless of what that silly old calendar says."

As always, the content will show up a bit later for MW3 players on PlayStation 3 and PC, per Microsoft's long-standing exclusivity agreement with Acti. We reached out to the publisher for more information, screens and video, and will update this post when we know more.

Update: The Infinity Ward Twitter account just dropped the image above of Spec Ops mission "Arctic Recon," and said that only two of the three Faceoff maps Rubin spoke of - "U-Turn" and "Vortext" - will go live tomorrow. The same account posted earlier that three Faceoff maps are included. We're trying to clarify the situation with Activision.

Update 2: The tweet was deleted and updated to reflect all three maps. Okay then, to be clear: three Faceoff maps ("Vortex," "U-Turn," and "Intersection") and one Spec Ops map ("Arctic Recon").

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>call-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3cod-elitecod-elite-premiumelitefaceoffinfinity-wardmark-rubinmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3premium-membershipraven-softwaresledgehammer-gamesspec-opsxboxMon, 18 Jun 2012 19:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/05/cocked-hammers-is-will-arnett-and-jason-batemans-cod-elite-co/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/05/cocked-hammers-is-will-arnett-and-jason-batemans-cod-elite-co/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/05/cocked-hammers-is-will-arnett-and-jason-batemans-cod-elite-co/#commentsEver since Activision revealed plans for Will Arnett and Jason Bateman's production company (dumbdumb) to create a comedy series for the Call of Duty Elite service, we've been ... uh ... well, to be honest, we totally forgot about it. But today a clip for that very comedy show popped up on Activision's Call of Duty channel, which revealed the show to be "Cocked Hammers."

We've dropped the three minute tease just above, which offers a glimpse into what we can expect from the series. Thus far, it's Jason Bateman and Will Arnett playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 against each other while cracking jokes. Fingers crossed for something a bit less obvious next time around, though, in fairness, the clip does offer some legit yucks.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-dutycall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3cocked-hammersdumbdumbjason-batemanmodern-warfare-3will-arnettTue, 05 Jun 2012 19:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/31/face-off-mode-coming-to-modern-warfare-3-on-ps3-june-15/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/31/face-off-mode-coming-to-modern-warfare-3-on-ps3-june-15/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/31/face-off-mode-coming-to-modern-warfare-3-on-ps3-june-15/#commentsPS3 players eager to get intimate with Modern Warfare 3's latest mode, Face-Off, will get their chance come June 15, the Infinity Ward Twitter account has revealed. Face-Off will be free for all Modern Warfare 3 players on PSN.

Face-Off is a team-based match type designed for small numbers of players. Along with the free mode, PS3 players also get two free maps designed specifically for the new game type: Erosion and Aground.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionagroundcall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3erosionface-offinfinity-wardmodern-warfare-3playstationps3Raven-Softwaresledgehammer-gamesThu, 31 May 2012 21:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/rumor-ea-to-reveal-cod-elite-like-service-for-battlefield-3-at/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/rumor-ea-to-reveal-cod-elite-like-service-for-battlefield-3-at/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/rumor-ea-to-reveal-cod-elite-like-service-for-battlefield-3-at/#commentsElectronic Arts is prepping its own subscription-based companion service for its flagship military-centric first person shooter, according to a "very reliable source" belonging to Battlefieldo. The service (dubbed Battlefield[TM] Premium) would be to Battlefield 3 what Activision's Call of Duty Elite program is to Modern Warfare 3, granting access to "a number of content drops with unique in-game items not available anywhere else," so sayeth the allegedly leaked press release.

"First out is the one-of-a-kind Premium knife and black dog tag," the missive continues, "plus a set of soldier camos, weapon camos, dog tags and Assignments that will make sure you stand out and get more personalization options." Should this all pan out, Battlefield Premium will be officially announced during E3, specifically on June 4. We've reached out to EA for comment and will update if/when we hear back.

Activision's Call of Duty Elite service puts another feather in its very busy cap today with a reported total of 10 million users, two million of which are paid subscribers. This is an increase of three million and 500,000, respectively, since last Activision dished out some numbers in February.

The latest earnings report says it's "an increase of approximately 33% from January 31, 2012." As of March 31, Activision has 40 million monthly active users across all Call of Duty products and platforms.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3infinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3Raven-Softwaresledgehammer-gamestreyarchxboxWed, 09 May 2012 16:53:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/modern-warfare-3-on-ps3-gets-sanctuary-and-foundation-maps-t/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/modern-warfare-3-on-ps3-gets-sanctuary-and-foundation-maps-t/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/modern-warfare-3-on-ps3-gets-sanctuary-and-foundation-maps-t/#commentsPS3-based Call of Duty Elite members will have another "content drop" this Thursday, in shocking defiance of Sony's usual Tuesday download schedule.

The maps "Sanctuary" and "Foundation," released just about a month ago on Xbox 360, will be available this week in Modern Warfare 3for paying Elite-ists. "Sanctuary" is a monastery high above Greece, and "Foundation" is a former concrete factory in South Korea. Both are home to dudes who will fire guns at you, and at whom you will, in turn, fire guns.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>call-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3dlcfoundationmodern-warfare-3playstationps3sanctuaryMon, 07 May 2012 19:15:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/16/analysts-modern-warfare-3-sales-below-black-ops-so-far/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/16/analysts-modern-warfare-3-sales-below-black-ops-so-far/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/16/analysts-modern-warfare-3-sales-below-black-ops-so-far/#commentsModern Warfare 3 had a strong start out of the gate, but hasn't shown the same vigor in sales as Treyarch's 2010 outing, Call of Duty: Black Ops - at least, according to industry analysts. Could the franchise fatigue we've seen across the pond be setting in here as well?

According to comments made to Gamasutra, the firm estimates the total volume of sales for Modern Warfare 3 are down, somewhere around 4.2%, but it's not necessarily due to franchise fatigue. The firm posits that casual gamers are using their consoles more for streaming content (such as Netflix), and purchasing fewer games.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionanalystcall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3microsoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3xboxMon, 16 Apr 2012 22:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/10/psa-modern-warfare-3-takes-sanctuary-in-foundation-on-xbox-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/10/psa-modern-warfare-3-takes-sanctuary-in-foundation-on-xbox-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/10/psa-modern-warfare-3-takes-sanctuary-in-foundation-on-xbox-360/#commentsContent drops 7 and 8 have deployed for Call of Duty Elite premium members on Xbox Live today. Multiplayer maps Sanctuary and Foundation are now available for download in Modern Warfare 3 on Xbox 360.

Sanctuary (pictured above) takes place in Greece, throughout several different monasteries; Foundation is a map based in South Korea, inside a derelict factory. The two maps will be available to PS3 and PC players on some undisclosed future date.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3foundationmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3sanctuaryxboxTue, 10 Apr 2012 13:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/15/call-of-duty-elite-subs-getting-four-more-pieces-of-unnamed-mw3/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/15/call-of-duty-elite-subs-getting-four-more-pieces-of-unnamed-mw3/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/15/call-of-duty-elite-subs-getting-four-more-pieces-of-unnamed-mw3/#commentsIf those 20 pieces of planned DLC for Modern Warfare 3 weren't enough for you, perhaps four additional bits will do the trick. Activision is sharing the four-piece bonus with Elite subscribers throughout the coming months, but isn't saying exactly what the content will be. All we know is that it'll be interspersed throughout the planned Elite content "season."

Elite's platform ubiquity is increasing as well, with the service's planned launch on tablets coming in the near future. Nearly 2 million folks have already snagged the app across both iOS and Android -- that's quite a few, considering approximately 7 million folks are Elite users. Activision promises a variety of (specified) updates to Elite's functionality over the next few months.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbeachheadbeachhead-studioscall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3cod-elitedlcdownloadable-contenteliteinfinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3ravenraven-softwarexboxThu, 15 Mar 2012 13:40:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/overwatch-drops-on-modern-warfare-3-ps3-march-29-black-ice-bla/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/overwatch-drops-on-modern-warfare-3-ps3-march-29-black-ice-bla/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/overwatch-drops-on-modern-warfare-3-ps3-march-29-black-ice-bla/#commentsPS3 players, you've got some new maps coming your way over the next 30 days. One of Swords reports that Overwatch is set to drop on Modern Warfare 3 PS3 on March 29. It'll be available to premium subscribers of the Call of Duty Elite service on PS3.

Then, the multiplayer map Black Box, and two Spec Ops maps, Black Ice and Negotiator, will come to PS3 "on or around April 12." We recently got our hands on those maps, which we wrote about here.

If you're wondering about the vague date, it's because the time for posting the DLC on the PlayStation Network is up to Sony -- it could go live in the morning, or it could go live late at night.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblack-boxblack-icecall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3dlcmodern-warfare-3negotiatoroverwatchplaystationps3psnWed, 14 Mar 2012 18:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/psa-black-ice-black-box-and-negotiator-out-for-call-of-duty-el/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/psa-black-ice-black-box-and-negotiator-out-for-call-of-duty-el/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/psa-black-ice-black-box-and-negotiator-out-for-call-of-duty-el/#commentsToday you should find three new stomping grounds in Modern Warfare 3 on Xbox 360, provided you're a premium member of the Call of Duty Elite service. Black Ice and Negotiator, a pair of Spec Ops maps we were able to try out last week, and multiplayer locale Black Box, have been deployed in Modern Warfare 3.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3dlcinfinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3sledgehammer-gamesxboxTue, 13 Mar 2012 08:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/negotiation-with-extreme-prejudice-in-modern-warfare-3-spec-ops/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/negotiation-with-extreme-prejudice-in-modern-warfare-3-spec-ops/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/negotiation-with-extreme-prejudice-in-modern-warfare-3-spec-ops/#commentsStriking that balance of emotional impact and tension in video games is no easy task. For one, video games aren't real, so I generally don't concern myself much when I run over a virtual pedestrian or cut off an AI driver in the final lap. I don't care if I'm a jerk in a video game.

But there's something about watching some thug shoot an innocent virtual person in the face, directly in front of me, that really ticks me off. As Sledgehammer Games community manager Guy Beahm and I ran through the Spec Ops DLC coming to Modern Warfare 3 Elite subscribers tomorrow, and as part of Content Collection #1, I genuinely felt lousy when I was seconds from saving a hostage. I really wanted to save these people.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblack-icecall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3dlcInfinity-Wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3negotiatorpcplaystationps3Raven-Softwaresledgehammer-gamesspec-opsxboxMon, 12 Mar 2012 13:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/psa-call-of-duty-elite-clan-operations-deployed-on-xbox-360-and/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/psa-call-of-duty-elite-clan-operations-deployed-on-xbox-360-and/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/psa-call-of-duty-elite-clan-operations-deployed-on-xbox-360-and/#commentsConsole gamers have been missing out on some Call of Duty Elite functionality -- specifically, Clan Operations. Activision promised Clan Ops would be available soon and delivered today, flipping the switch that lets clans take part in competitions for extra experience and prizes. While all Elite members can take part in Clan Ops, only premium members will be scored and ranked on their performance.

If you're still having trouble understanding how it all works, check out the handy explanation after the break, care of Activision.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>call-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3clan-operationsmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3playstationps3xboxWed, 22 Feb 2012 00:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/psa-ac-revelations-lost-archive-dlc-modern-warfare-3-overw/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/psa-ac-revelations-lost-archive-dlc-modern-warfare-3-overw/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/psa-ac-revelations-lost-archive-dlc-modern-warfare-3-overw/#commentsActivision is dropping the next Call of Duty Elite content pack for Modern Warfare 3 in Overwatch, a rooftop map for the game's multiplayer component. If you'd like to take a peek at that map, we've dropped the latest trailer just above.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3dlceliteinfinity-wardmicrosoftoverwatchpcraven-softwaresledgehammer-gamesxboxxbox-livexbox-live-marketplaceTue, 21 Feb 2012 15:01:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/mw3s-next-dlc-drops-from-a-skyscraper-onto-xbox-elite-members-o/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/mw3s-next-dlc-drops-from-a-skyscraper-onto-xbox-elite-members-o/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/mw3s-next-dlc-drops-from-a-skyscraper-onto-xbox-elite-members-o/#commentsCall of Duty Elite premium members playing Modern Warfare 3 on Xbox Live will receive the next batch of DLC, Overwatch, on February 21. Overwatch puts players in a construction site at the top of a New York City skyscraper, with a very real chance of dropping 70 feet to the sidewalk as an added risk. If you have trouble visualizing that, check out the gallery below.

The previous batch of downloadable content, Liberation and Piazza, is set to launch on PSN on February 28, having come out on Xbox Live in January, all in accordance with MW3's exclusivity deal with Microsoft. The next three batches of MW3 DLC will drop in March for Xbox premium members and will include the multiplayer map Black Box and two new Special Ops missions, Black Ice and Negotiator.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionCall-of-Dutycall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3DLCeliteInfinity-Wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3overwatchpcplaystationpremiumps3xboxTue, 07 Feb 2012 13:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/call-of-duty-elite-clan-operations-closer-every-day/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/call-of-duty-elite-clan-operations-closer-every-day/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/call-of-duty-elite-clan-operations-closer-every-day/#commentsUntil now, it's been difficult for Elite users to level up their clans in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. That appears to be changing in the near future, with the arrival of the long-awaited Clan Operations feature, which allows clans to take part in competitions for fun, experience, and even prizes.

Beachhead posted a preview of the Clan Operations interface on the Elite forums, detailing how users will choose Operations, and what kind of information they'll see (how much Clan XP an Op is worth, their current enlistment status, and start and end dates). Users can also browse each Op's prizes ... like the Call of Duty Elite skateboard shown in the example.

While this progress is promising, Beachhead still hasn't put a firm date on this feature's launch. "We're currently putting all Clan Operations through extensive testing," the company noted, "and while we can't give you a date on when it will be ready, it is getting closer every day."

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beachheadcall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3clan-operationsmodern-warfare-3playstationps3Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/ps3-call-of-duty-elite-dlc-release-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/ps3-call-of-duty-elite-dlc-release-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/ps3-call-of-duty-elite-dlc-release-date/#commentsPlayers with a paid Call of Duty Elite membership on Playstation 3 will be able to snag two new Modern Warfare 3 maps, Liberation and Piazza, on February 28. Both maps launched for Xbox 360 Elite premium members on January 24, and we presume they will come to non-Elite and PC players eventually -- possibly another month after the PS3 version goes live.

Or possibly another two months, just to really rub it in, like the below screens for Liberation and Piazza will do.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activisioncall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3eliteInfinity-Wardliberationmapsmodern-warfare-3piazzaplaystationpremiumps3sledgehammer-gamesTreyarchThu, 02 Feb 2012 13:20:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/modern-warfare-3-elite-maps-locked-to-one-profile-on-one-console/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/modern-warfare-3-elite-maps-locked-to-one-profile-on-one-console/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/modern-warfare-3-elite-maps-locked-to-one-profile-on-one-console/#commentsThe Call of Duty Elite DLC may be more "elite" than intended. Users on the Call of Duty forums are complaining that the DLC maps can only be played by one account per console. That means that only the person who bought it can play the maps -- not other users of the same game on the same console, unless they share a single Xbox Live profile.

"I just tried on my other account and you are right, I cannot use the maps on the same Xbox with another gamertag even though it's all on the same xbox," notes forum user HalfericTuck, just one of many complaining fans. Reader Aaron, who alerted us to this issue, told Joystiq, "My girlfriend, whom I live with, cannot play the maps. My friend's teenage sons cannot play the maps."

This restriction does not square with the stated terms on the download. When users download the add-on, they are told, "You can use this item on the first Xbox 360 console you downloaded it to. Access to this item will also be granted to all users on this first console."

We've inquired with Activision regarding this issue, and will let you know when we've heard back.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3dlcinfinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3xboxWed, 25 Jan 2012 18:20:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/plan-your-life-around-this-modern-warfare-3-elite-dlc-calendar/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/plan-your-life-around-this-modern-warfare-3-elite-dlc-calendar/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/plan-your-life-around-this-modern-warfare-3-elite-dlc-calendar/#commentsActivision has come closer to identifying the specifics of the Modern Warfare 3 DLC schedule for Elite members, posting a calendar that shows what kind of content will be available every month through September. Don't worry: it's just text and images, not a video of Rob Riggle reading the schedule out. Yet.

February offers just one map, and April and July will have two maps each; aside from that, every month has some combination of maps, missions, and modes (modes in June and August). You can see exactly which combination will be available each month after the break, but Activision isn't revealing names until the current month, it appears.

Update: See a walkthrough for downloading Elite content in the video above.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3Infinity-Wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3playstationps3xboxWed, 25 Jan 2012 09:40:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/psa-call-of-duty-elite-app-now-available-on-android-market/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/psa-call-of-duty-elite-app-now-available-on-android-market/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/psa-call-of-duty-elite-app-now-available-on-android-market/#comments
Call of Duty Elite is now available on the Android Market, for free. The Android version comes one week after the iOS launch but offers the same unprecedented ability to check your stats, review recent matches and update your in-game loadout from your phone. Elite on your Android device could make lunch lines, bus rides, work breaks, and long, fast car rides on busy freeways much more entertaining (OK, not that last one).

Beachhead Studios head Chacko Sonny sees the initial mobile launch of Elite as a wonderful opportunity to get feedback from the community, so don't hold back -- not that you would, but now you have permission.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidcall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3elitemobilemodern-warfare-3Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/tour-the-killing-fields-of-modern-warfare-3s-first-dlc-with-lat/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/tour-the-killing-fields-of-modern-warfare-3s-first-dlc-with-lat/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/tour-the-killing-fields-of-modern-warfare-3s-first-dlc-with-lat/#comments
You've been shooting dudes for nearly three months since Modern Warfare 3's early November launch, but that Elite pass has yet to offer more than a chance to watch your buddy Tim's lame gameplay clips. That's all about to change! The first DLC is nearly upon us, and here is your first tour.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>call-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3dlcdownloadable-contentinfinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3raven-softwaresledgehammer-gamesxboxTue, 10 Jan 2012 13:10:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/psa-call-of-duty-elite-ios-app-now-available/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/psa-call-of-duty-elite-ios-app-now-available/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/psa-call-of-duty-elite-ios-app-now-available/#comments
As promised, the Call of Duty Elite app for iOS is now available via the iTunes App Store, and just like its console counterpart, it's totally free. The Elite app offers a chance for Modern Warfare 3 players to track stats, player progression, revisit past matches, and a variety of other services, though we're told it's all the more thrilling if you're paying for the annual Elite subscription. The application is expected to arrive on Android devices next week.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storebeachhead-studioscall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3cod-eliteiosipadiphoneitunesitunes-app-storemobilemodern-warfare-3psapublic-service-announcementTue, 10 Jan 2012 09:20:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/call-of-duty-elites-mobile-app-launches-tomorrow-on-ios-next-w/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/call-of-duty-elites-mobile-app-launches-tomorrow-on-ios-next-w/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/call-of-duty-elites-mobile-app-launches-tomorrow-on-ios-next-w/#comments
You're standing in line for lunch, replaying last night's match on Arkaden in Modern Warfare 3 in your mind, when you remember the final shot -- you really wanted that gun. You could wait until you get home, check your recent matches on Elite and shank the winning shooter's weapon of choice -- like a peasant -- or you could do it right there, in line, on your phone -- like a boss. This is the vision Beachhead Studios head Chacko Sonny has for Call of Duty Elite's free mobile app, hitting iOS smart phones tomorrow, Jan. 10, and Android one week later.

The Elite app will offer four main areas of mobile control:

Career summary: Just like Elite main, check stats and general player information on yourself and others you've played

Recent matches: After-action report on the past 10 matches, including scores, kill/death ratios, map information for yourself and others in the match

Anything altered in the Elite mobile app that affects loadouts or in-game options will be exported to console, and players will accept the changes after logging on. Most of the app's functions have been modified to fit a smaller screen, especially Sonny's favorite, class customization. Beachhead Studios developers have been testing the mobile app on their own phones, and Sonny said it expands the realm of bragging rights considerably because players will have proof -- or not -- of their achievements right in their pockets.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidcall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3eliteElite-mobileElite-mobile-appiosiphonemicrosoftmobilemodern-warfare-3playstationps3xboxMon, 09 Jan 2012 13:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/28/call-of-duty-elite-trailer-gives-us-the-rundown/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/28/call-of-duty-elite-trailer-gives-us-the-rundown/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/28/call-of-duty-elite-trailer-gives-us-the-rundown/#comments
Now that Elite is up and running, Activision has seen fit to remind us of what the exact perks are for signing up for Call of Duty Elite with the above trailer. It's also got tons of sweeping shots of dudes holding guns, if that's more your thing.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3microsoftmodern-warfare-3playstationps3xboxMon, 28 Nov 2011 23:39:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/a-thanksgiving-weekend-close-up-for-call-of-duty-elites-second/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/a-thanksgiving-weekend-close-up-for-call-of-duty-elites-second/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/a-thanksgiving-weekend-close-up-for-call-of-duty-elites-second/#comments
When we last spoke with Call of Duty VP of Production Daniel Suarez two weeks ago, just after the record-breaking launch of Modern Warfare 3, things weren't going so well. Sure, MW3 sold 6.5 million units in a single day, but Activision's high-profile Call of Duty Elite service fell squarely on its face. Now, two weeks later, Elite is operational and Suarez says Activision is confident the service can withstand not only the Thanksgiving holiday but a potential post-Black Friday surge.

"It was a lot of hard work from where we were two weeks ago, which was an embarassing place," Suarez confessed. "And now we're at a place where we're confidant people will be able to enjoy the service." And while Elite is operational or, as Suarez put it, "up on its feet," the team continues to push out new builds almost daily. "We still have some bugs and some kinks to work out," he said. "We've been pushing out fixes everyday to address people on Twitter" and elsewhere.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbeachhead-studioscall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3Infinity-Wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3playstationps3sledgehammer-gamesxboxWed, 23 Nov 2011 19:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/activision-hits-4-million-elite-subscribers-adjusts-mw3-player/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/activision-hits-4-million-elite-subscribers-adjusts-mw3-player/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/activision-hits-4-million-elite-subscribers-adjusts-mw3-player/#comments
While Activision scrambles to repair Call of Duty Elite, it seems more and more users are piling onto the beleaguered service. The company today announced that the service managed to acquire four million registrations in its first six days of (sort of) operation. What's more, one million of those are paid memberships, leading us to ponder how much $49.99 times 1 million is. Our math skills are rusty, but we're fairly certain the number is pretty big. Furthermore, Activision also revealed that the service has seen more than one million daily logins, and users have already created over 80,000 clans and uploaded more than 100,000 videos.

In other news, Activision issued a correction on Modern Warfare 3's day one player numbers. The company previously announced that the FPS juggernaut pulled in 3.3 million simultaneous players on launch day, November 8. Turns out the real number is under half of that at 1.4 million. There were, however, 3.3 million unique games played on launch day. That's still pretty good, we suppose.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3microsoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3xboxTue, 22 Nov 2011 11:55:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/19/activision-call-of-duty-elite-to-be-up-and-running-by-dec-1/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/19/activision-call-of-duty-elite-to-be-up-and-running-by-dec-1/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/19/activision-call-of-duty-elite-to-be-up-and-running-by-dec-1/#comments
While it's been a rocky start for Activision's Call of Duty Elite service, it would appear that there is finally light at the end of the tunnel. Speaking with G4, Activision's VP of production, Daniel Suarez, said that the current goal is to have Elite online for everyone by December 1.

"They kind of have to bear with us while we bring this all back up, but for us it's literally 'Give us those couple weeks, we're giving those to you for free and come December 1 the goal is that we'll have everything up and running,'" Suarez said. Activision's previous effort to quell concerns of subscribers included a free extra month of subscription to the service, while Beachhead currently works to get Elite, well, working. And while Beachhead monitored the beta for months, admittedly it couldn't foresee just how many users would sign up.

But hey, we finally have some kind of promised timeline for full functionality. Let's just hope Beachhead and Activision can honor that promise.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbeachheadbeachhead-studioscall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3microsoftmodern-warfare-3playstationps3xboxSat, 19 Nov 2011 03:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/gamestop-moves-600k-call-of-duty-elite-subscriptions-a-top-10/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/gamestop-moves-600k-call-of-duty-elite-subscriptions-a-top-10/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/gamestop-moves-600k-call-of-duty-elite-subscriptions-a-top-10/#comments
Wondering how Call of Duty Elite is doing? Well, stability-wise it's still a touch-and-go mess. But sales wise, you could call it a "hit." During an earnings call today, GameStop prez Tony Bartel said, "In the case of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, we worked closely with Activision, Sony and Microsoft to pre-order and deliver nearly 600,000 instances of the Modern Warfare Elite DLC to date."

So a single retailer delivered 600,000 paying subscribers to Call of Duty Elite, on the back of 6.5 million day one purchases across all retailers. That sounds significant, right? Bartel says, "This places the launch of Elite as one of our top 10 launches of the year so far." We followed up with GameStop for some additional color, and were told Call of Duty Elite "is the most successful DLC launch of all time," for the retailer. Still think Elite was a bad idea?

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbeachhead-studioscall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3gamestopInfinity-Wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3sledgehammer-gamesxboxThu, 17 Nov 2011 20:15:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/11/how-beachhead-is-putting-call-of-duty-elite-back-together-again/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/11/how-beachhead-is-putting-call-of-duty-elite-back-together-again/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/11/how-beachhead-is-putting-call-of-duty-elite-back-together-again/#comments
With Call of Duty Elite still struggling to serve its much-touted blend of stats and features to the throng of Modern Warfare 3 consumers, we asked Call of Duty VP of Production Daniel Suarez to explain the outage, what Activision and Beachhead Studios are doing to fix it, and when we might finally be able to see what Elite is all about. After months of hype, confusion, controversy, and promises, the ambitious web service has failed to launch and, in so doing, has failed to silence the skeptics.

It didn't take long to realize Elite wouldn't hold up to the traffic. Beachhead Studios chief Chacko Sonny posted a notice on the Call of Duty Elite status page in the early morning hours of launch day, but the game had been in consumers' hands for some time. "It's a worlwide launch for MW3 and Elite, so we had a launch occuring Monday late afternoon with Australia and then everything kicking in into Europe and then into the East Coast in the US and then the West Coast," Suarez recounted. "So the launch of MW3 had been huge and we knew it would be huge, it just translated into a tremendous amount of traffic to Elite. And we anticipated it to be big, it just turned out to be even bigger than that."

The problems began at the earliest stage of the process: registration. "The high demand from the console application and registration on the website from the PC really crippled the registration and login process which then translated into the backend servers being slammed," Suarez explained. "So we've been working around the clock to alleviate access into the system and we've had a large number of people now able to register. We've resolved that piece of it and now we're actually working on getting the service back up and running to a point where poeple can then enjoy it."

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbeachhead-studioscall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3daniel-suarezmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3xboxFri, 11 Nov 2011 19:45:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/call-of-duty-elite-still-intermittent-annual-memberships-bump/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/call-of-duty-elite-still-intermittent-annual-memberships-bump/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/call-of-duty-elite-still-intermittent-annual-memberships-bump/#comments
While Modern Warfare 3 appears to be continuing the trend of stable, successful Call of Duty multiplayer launches, the much-ballyhooed Call of Duty Elite service hasn't fared so well. Despite a beta and a solid indication of the platform's requirements, Elite has been down since launch day. While Activision and Beachhead Studios continue to toil away on the problem, they've added another update to the CoD Elite status page letting eager gamers know what's what.

"And for our premium members who are Founders, know that granting your status and delivering your in-game benefits in MW3 is a priority," the statement reads, addressing the early paid adopters of Elite. "Also, to ensure that every premium member receives their full money's worth, we are immediately and automatically extending your membership to Call of Duty Elite by 30 days at no additional cost."

So that means your one-year membership is now a thirteen-month membership. But what if you haven't bought Elite yet? "If you're still considering becoming a premium member, we're going to extend Founder eligibility until the end of the month," the statement continues, "and you will also receive the additional 30 days of access."

So that's thirteen months of Elite and a one-month extension on Founder eligibility. A decent enough consolation package for premium members, but the free users will have to simply wait for Elite to get back online before they can start tweaking their loadouts from work.

Stay tuned for an interview with Activision on what's happening with Call of Duty Elite.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbeachhead-studioscall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3microsoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3xboxThu, 10 Nov 2011 14:20:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/european-psn-releases-for-november-9-elite-premier-manager-and/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/european-psn-releases-for-november-9-elite-premier-manager-and/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/european-psn-releases-for-november-9-elite-premier-manager-and/#comments
European PSN users who are looking to shoot every single one of their friends and relations, and then have documented evidence of the affair: You are the worst murderers ever. However, you're the ideal audience for Call of Duty Elite, which launched today on the Euro PlayStation Store. You can grab the app and sign up for a premium membership through the Store, then fly your K/D spread like a proud, proud flag.

Also on the European Store is the managerial football sim Premier Manager 2012, and the revamped, Move-enabled Hydrophobia Prophecy. Check out PlayStation Blog for the full list of releases!